This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Huntsman: Campaign fundraising is a 'cancer' in the political system. Utah Dems: We can't afford an online presidential primary. One Romney confidant for Lee, one against.

Happy Tuesday. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has repeatedly ruled out a 2016 presidential bid and yesterday offered one of the main reasons he won't be jumping back into the ring: money. "The thought of going out and spending 99 percent of your time raising money, which I think is one of the great cancers that is spreading within our political system and injurious for our democracy longer-term, and the way that we've kind of built the primary process is not conducive always to getting a good general election candidate," Huntsman said. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/27/jon-huntsman-money-in-politics_n_7153442.html" target="_blank">HuffPost]

Topping the news: Utah Democratic Party Chairman Peter Corroon said yesterday that the party can't afford to hold its own presidential primary online next year and instead will choose a candidate in caucuses. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627420/Utah-Dems-cant-afford-online-presidential-primary-election.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> While one of Mitt Romney's top aides from 2012 is encouraging a challenge to Sen. Mike Lee in 2016, another one of Romney's confidants was just hired to advise Lee about his potential opponents. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2448314-155/sen-mike-lees-romney-connections-" target="_blank">Trib]

Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/itschappy" target="_blank">itschappy: "Slow news day? Must be. RT @https://twitter.com/UtahPolicy" target="_blank">UtahPolicy: Could Kim Kardashian be a viable candidate for president?"

Tune in: Dr. Laura Nelson with the Governor's Office of Energy Development, Lindsay Beebe of the Sierra Club and Tribune environment reporter Brian Maffly join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about a controversial plan by four Utah counties to export coal and other resources to overseas markets via a port in Oakland, Calif. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.

In other news: Utah lawmakers held the first of several sessions yesterday to try to pinpoint ways to minimize violent encounters between police and citizens, including giving police more training when dealing with the mentally ill. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2447876-155/utah-looks-at-ways-to-train" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.standard.net/Police/2015/04/27/Utah-lawmakers-hold-study-session-on-police-use-of-force.html" target="_blank">AP]

-> The Tribune's Paul Rolly discusses the "Capitol 13" who were arrested last year for protesting against the Legislature's refusal to debate issues regarding LGBT rights, saying they risked a lot for their cause. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2439113-155/rolly-utah-capitol-13-protester-risked" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Several Utahns voiced their opinions on the Supreme Court case on whether or not states have the right to ban or legalize same-sex marriage. [http://fox13now.com/2015/04/26/scotus-to-hear-oral-arguments-on-same-sex-marriage-tuesday-utahns-weigh-in-on-issue/" target="_blank">Fox13] The court is set to hear the case today. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/us-supreme-court-set-to-hear-same-sex-marriage-cas/36151/vLdcYCaUQEmfkiOJJxY2jg" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://www.standard.net/News/2015/04/27/Tuesday-s-the-day-Gay-marriage-arguments-at-Supreme-Court-1.html" target="_blank">AP]

-> Utah officials say it will cost $2 million to repair damage from last August's landslide in North Salt Lake. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/north-salt-lake-2-million-to-fix-landslide-site/73637/L39E5aB6Nk20YrRPGhML4w" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627431/North-Salt-Lake-officials-Repairing-hill-will-cost-2-million.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> UTA has changed the definition of its "opening day" projections, a move that has allowed it to be able to say ridership is exceeding expectations. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2430417-155/definition-change-allows-uta-to-say" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Sandy is conducting a new campaign against underage drinking and adults who sell alcohol to minors. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627393/New-campaign-targets-parents-adults-as-alcohol-providers.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Former Miss Utah recently spoke in Kaysville City about her experience being sexually abused as a child to help open up the dialogue about the topic in honor of April's National Child Abuse Prevention Month. [http://www.standard.net/Police/2015/04/27/National-Child-Abuse-Prevention-Month.html" target="_blank">Standard]

-> A new study says Salt Lake City is the worst-polluting mountain town. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/study-salt-lake-most-polluting-mountain-town/90692/5pT7IJwHnEiVCyI8EIIJgQ" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> Salt Lake City's Homeless Services Site Evaluation Commission is holding a community open house tomorrow. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627412/Salt-Lake-City-Homeless-Services-Commission-to-hold-meeting.html" target="_blank">DNews]

Nationally: Riots erupted in Baltimore, Md., yesterday with protestors looting stores and injuring police officers after the funeral of Freddie Gray, a black man who died while in police custody. The governor has called a state of emergency and enacted a curfew in the city in response to the riots. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2446733-155/baltimore-riot-schools-closed-officers-injured" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/27/us/baltimore-unrest/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/27/baltimore-officers-injured-_n_7155564.html" target="_blank">HuffPost] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/us/baltimore-freddie-gray.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/27/baltimore-riots-gang-attacks-white-police-officers/" target="_blank">WaTimes]

-> A top Iranian general said in an interview with an Arabic media outlet that American officials planned and executed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to justify military intervention in the region. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/iranian-general-us-behind-9-11-117385.html?ml=po" target="_blank">Politico]

-> President Barack Obama's official china — in the color of "Kailua Blue" — was unveiled yesterday ahead of a state dinner with the Japanese prime minister.  [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/check-obama-kailua-blue-china/story?id=30623654" target="_blank">ABC] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765672669/White-House-unveils-blue-trimmed-Barack-Obama-state-china.html" target="_blank">AP]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart flies to Washington, attends a House Intelligence Committee meeting, votes and meets with Rep. Rob Bishop and Gov. Gary Herbert.
  • Rep. Mia https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove" target="_blank">Love votes in the evening.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert meets with Reps. Rob Bishop and Chris Stewart about the sage grouse and attends the White House State Dinner with the prime minister of Japan.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox has no public events.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/beckerformayor" target="_blank">Becker attends a budget preparation meeting, a Nashville 2015 study transit meeting and a City Council meeting.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama welcomes Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and his wife  to the White House and hosts a State Dinner.
  • Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com" target="_blank">cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [http://www.sltrib.com/pages/email" target="_blank">Trib]

    — Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer

    https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/erica_palmer">Twitter.com/erica_palmer